Settling in · Meath
Landing in Meath? Start here.
The first fortnight in Meath, in order: the paperwork that has to happen, then the places that make it feel like somewhere you could stay.
Week one and two
The order to do things in
1
Ring your Sama contact when you land
Whoever placed you. Tell them you arrived and that you are all right. We check in on you, but ring anyway.
2
Get your PPS number started
You cannot be taxed properly without it and emergency tax is expensive. You need proof of address and your job offer.
3
Open a bank account
Bring your passport, your permit or IRP, and a letter from your employer with your address. Some branches are easier than others, which is exactly the kind of thing worth telling the next person.
4
Get an Irish SIM
A local number makes everything else easier, including the bank.
5
Register with a GP
Do it before you are sick, not after. The HSE finder is below.
6
Register for tax with Revenue
myAccount, then give your employer your details. Otherwise emergency tax eats your first pay.
7
Sort your immigration registration
If your permission needs an IRP, book it early. Appointments go quickly.
8
Find the nearest shop, place of worship and club
This is the part that decides whether you stay. It is also the part nobody puts in a handbook, which is why the rest of this page exists.
Official, and free
Official finders
Run by the State, so they stay current. Search each one for your own town.
Find a GPThe HSE list of GPs, searchable by area. Ring a few: some practices are full and some are not.Get a PPS numberYou need one to be paid properly and to be taxed properly. Apply through MyWelfare once you have a job offer and an address.PPS allocation centres by countyWhere to go in person, county by county.Citizens Information centre near youFree, independent, face to face help with anything: rights, benefits, housing, tax, immigration. Phone 0818 07 4000.Register your immigration permissionIf you need an Irish Residence Permit, this is where it is done and where the appointments are.Find your local Garda stationWorth knowing before you need it. Emergency is 112 or 999.Register for taxRevenue myAccount. Do this early or you will be on emergency tax and your first payslips will hurt.Exchange or apply for a driving licenceThe NDLS decides whether your licence can be exchanged or whether you start with the theory test.Renting: know the rulesThreshold gives free advice to tenants, and the RTB registers tenancies and settles disputes.Public transportTimetables and fares for bus, rail and Luas across the country.
Near you
69 places in Meath worth knowing in week one
From OpenStreetMap, the map that locals build, plus places our team knows. Every card has a map link. If one has closed or moved, WhatsApp us and it comes down.
Nothing nearby matches that yet. Try a shorter word.
Places of worship
Every faith near you, listed so people can find a community when they arrive. Sama Talent Group is not affiliated with any religion or religious organisation.
Churches
St. Patrick’s Church, Rathcairn
Christian, Roman catholic
Garraí Tom Taimín, Athboy, C15 AD95
About 13 km away
Saint Ultan’s Church, Bohermeen
Christian, Roman catholic
Bohermeen Road, The Municipal District of Navan
About 7 km away
Church of the Holy Trinity
Christian, Roman catholic
Main Street, Ratoath
About 22 km away
Living Hope Church
Christian, Baptist
Navan Gate, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 PYH4
About 13 km away
Saint Patrick's Church
Christian, Anglican
Loman Street, The Municipal District of Trim
About 13 km away
Church Of The Assumption
Christian, Roman catholic
L5050 The Municipal District of Navan
About 3 km away
Other places of worship
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo, Navan
In the area
Claremont Stadium Macgabhann Suite, Commons road Balreask Old, Navan County Meath
Worship services: Sat 7:00pm · Sun 2:00pm
Iglesia ni Cristo, Dublin
About 42 km away
Bluebell avenue, Unit 4 Riversdale Industrial Estate Bluebell avenue Inchicore, Dublin 12 D12E2DP
Worship services: Wed 7:00pm · Thu 5:30am · Sat 10:00am · Sat 1:00pm (children) · Sun 5:30am · Sun 11:00am · Sun 1:30pm
Addresses and worship service times from the Iglesia ni Cristo directory, checked October 2026. Times can change, so check the locale's own page before you go. directory.iglesianicristo.net
Shops from home
Food and takeaways
Khan Spices
Indian. restaurant
Emmet Street, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 PT02
About 13 km away
Golden House
Chinese, thai. restaurant
Haggard Street, The Municipal District of Trim
About 13 km away
Khan's Tandoori
Indian. restaurant
Summerhill Road, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 R704
About 13 km away
Sports and clubs
Leisure Link
Soccer, swimming. Sports centre
Leisure Link Car Park, The Municipal District of Navan
About 2 km away
Ratoath Rugby Football Club
Rugby union. Sports centre
Curragha Road, Ratoath
About 22 km away
Bohermeen Celtic
Soccer. Sports centre
Bohermeen Road, The Municipal District of Navan
About 7 km away
Trim GAA Club
Gaelic games. Sports centre
Newhaggard Road, The Municipal District of Trim
About 14 km away
Dunshaughlin Youths Sports Grounds
Soccer, running. Sports centre
Future Outer Relief Road
About 19 km away
Simonstown Gaels GFC
Gaelic games. Sports centre
Proudstown Road, The Municipal District of Navan
About 2 km away
Days out and things to do
Community and support groups
Unity Centre
Community centre
Dunloe Park, The Municipal District of Navan, C15 FHD1
About 2 km away
St Mary's Community Centre
Community centre
Trimgate Street, The Municipal District of Navan, C15 C9YK
Deerpark Community Hub
Community centre
Deerpark Carlanstown, Carlanstown, A82 N9P8
About 16 km away
Dunshaughlin Community & Sports Centre
Community centre
Drumree Road, Dunshaughlin
About 18 km away
Bohermeen Community Centre
Community centre
New Line Road, The Municipal District of Navan, C15 XW97
About 7 km away
Árus Uí Ghramhnaigh (Áras Pobail Rath Cairn)
Community centre
L40022 Athboy, C15 H6WY
About 13 km away
St Patricks Snooker Hall
Community centre
Patrick Street, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 F680
About 13 km away
Barbers and hair specialists
Hot towel and traditional shaves
Sonic's Turkish Barber
Hairdresser
Patrick Street, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 F680
About 13 km away
Barbers and salons
Adam Gayle Hairdressing
Hairdresser
The Municipal District of Navan, C15 C658
The Hair Company
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00; PH off
10 Blackcastle Shopping Centre, The Municipal District of Navan, C15 DE40
Castle Barbers
Hairdresser. Hours: Mo-We 09:30-18:00; Th-Fr 09:30-19:00; Sa 09:00-18:00
10 Blackcastle Shopping Centre, The Municipal District of Navan, C15 DE40
Cinemas and libraries
Rathcairn Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Tu,Th 14:00-16:00,18:30-20:30; Sa 11:00-13:00
Garraí Tom Taimín, Rathcairn, C15 A9X3
About 13 km away
Trim Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi. Hours: Mo,We,Fr,Sa 10:00-17:00; Tu,Th 10:00-20:30
High Street, The Municipal District of Trim, C15 V56E
About 13 km away
Garristown Public Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Main Street, Garristown, A42 Y437
About 22 km away
Navan Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Saint Finians Terrace, The Municipal District of Navan
Kells Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Maudlin Street, Kells, A82 YN52
About 15 km away
Dunshaughlin Library
Library, free to join, warm, and with wifi
Main Street, Dunshaughlin, A85 KD39
About 19 km away
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. We do not make places up: if the map has it wrong, fix it on openstreetmap.org and it comes through at the next refresh.
Before you accept an offer
What would be left each month?
Put in the wage and the county. It works out the tax, the rent where you would live, the bills and the food, and shows what is left to save or send home.
Saving money
What locals use to spend less
The shops and sites people here use for cheap clothes, second-hand furniture, a car, and the weekly shop. We are not paid to list any of them.
DoneDealIreland's biggest site for second-hand cars, vans, tools and furniture. Check a car's history before you pay.Adverts.ieSecond-hand everything, often for very little, with plenty given away free.Facebook MarketplaceFurniture, bikes and household things from people near you. Meet in public, and never pay before you see it.PenneysCheap everyday clothes, work basics and bedding.Aldi and LidlThe cheapest big supermarkets for the weekly shop.Mr PriceDiscount stores around the country for household bits, cleaning products, toiletries and snacks.DealzHousehold bits and snacks for a euro or two.Too Good To GoSurprise bags of food from cafes, bakeries and supermarkets at the end of the day, at a fraction of the price.Charity shopsClothes, coats and furniture, and the money goes to a good cause.Bonkers.ieCompare phone, broadband, energy and bank costs, free.
Getting around
Getting around from Meath
Transport for IrelandThe national journey planner, Leap card and the TFI Go app.Irish RailTrain times, tickets and the commuter routes.Bus ÉireannTown and intercity buses across the country.
Driving here on your licence
A licence from the EU or EEA can be used while it is valid and exchanged for an Irish one. A licence from a state Ireland has an exchange agreement with can be exchanged when you take up residence. From other countries you start with a learner permit and take the theory test, lessons and the driving test. Professional drivers may also need their Driver CPC.
Check your licence with the RSA Exchange it through the NDLS
Hiring a car
Each rental company sets its own rules on age, how long you have held your licence and which licences it accepts, and young drivers often pay more. Check those rules before you book, and bring your licence and passport to the desk.
Driving rules taken from the official pages linked above, checked October 2026. They change, so the official page is the one to rely on.
How they talk here
Understanding people in Meath
Dublin
Fast and flat, with the middle of words often dropped. "Th" is usually a "t" or a "d": "three" sounds like "tree", "that" like "dat". Words run together: "d'ya know what I mean" becomes "jaknowharramean". People say "yeah" for yes and "no bother" for no problem. The north side and the south side of the city sound a little different from each other, and the suburbs are softer than the centre.
Hear how they talk in Dublinstory?Hello, how are things? Short for "what's the story?". You can answer "not much" or just "story?" back.budA friendly word for a man you are talking to, like "mate".grandFine, OK, good enough. The most used word in the country.gaffA house or flat.the jacksThe toilet.deadlyExcellent, brilliant. Nothing to do with danger.All 24 words, with audio and a check
Who hires from abroad here
1,495 employment permits went to Meath employers so far in 2026
1,252 in all of 2025. These are the employers in Meath already set up to hire people on permits, from the Department's own list. If you are here on a permit and want to move, these are the places that know how.
246Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company
119Silver Stream Healthcare Management Limited
53Kepak Cork Unlimited Company
45McCarren Meats Unlimited Company
45Blackden Limited
43Kepak Longford Unlimited Company
43Castlebridge Manor Private Clinic Limited
24Kepak Athleague Unlimited Company
While you are here